A substance use problem exists when one experiences any type of difficulty related to using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs including illicit street drugs or prescribed drugs such as painkillers or tranquilizers. The difficulty can be in any area of life; medical or physical, psychological, family, interpersonal, social, academic, occupational, legal, financial, or spiritual.This expanded new edition of the successful Graywind Publications title provides the reader with practical information and skills to help them understand and change a drug or alcohol problem. Designed to be used in conjunction with therapy or counseling, it focuses on special issues involved in stopping substance use and in changing behaviors or aspects of one's lifestyle that keep the substance use problem active. The information presented is derived from a wealth of research studies, and discusses the most effective recovery strategies from the examination of cognitive-behavoral treatment

Overview of Substance Use Problems and Assessment